FOOD + DRINK
Cafe Rouge
AT BLUEWATER
WALKING INTO CAFÉ ROUGE IN BLUEWATER JUST FEELS GOOD. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HOPE TO EXPECT FROM THE TRUSTED CHAIN AND IT’ S AN IMMEDIATELY APPEALING KIND OF PLACE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BOTH WELCOME AND RELAXED. THE FOOD HERE MAY BE OFFERED AT A VERY REASONABLE PRICE, BUT THE SIGNATURE LOOK OF THE RESTAURANT – DEEP REDS, NATURAL DARK WOODS, FRENCH BISTRO DÉCOR, AND FRIENDLY, ATTENTIVE STAFF – MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’ RE DINING OUT IN A MUCH MORE WALLET-WEAKENING ESTABLISHMENT. THANKFULLY, YOUR BANK BALANCE WON’ T SUFFER AND THE SERVICE, FOOD AND GENERAL AMBIENCE WILL IMPRESS. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
Café Rouge is a renowned family friendly place, serving up delicious food to suit every palate. There are balloons, which are always a winner with children, and there’ s an activity page and colouring on the kids’ menu too, so it’ s all set up to make for a leisurely meal as a family. It’ s just as lovely for couples, larger groups, or even if you fancied stepping out and eating on your own – you’ ll be well looked after.
Starters then … and what a start it was. My choice was the soupe à l ' oignon. This rustic French onion soup was thick and tasty, served with sourdough croutons and a big melting wedge of Emmental cheese on the top. It warmed me through completely and I enjoyed every perfectly seasoned mouthful. My guest decided to be adventurous choosing escargots to start. Neither of us was sure what to expect, but the tasty little morsels that arrived – herb-crusted and baked with bacon, shallots, mushrooms,
thyme, and a nice wallop of garlic butter – were incredible, proving that you don’ t have to cross the Channel to eat excellent French food.
The main course was more tricky to choose. The menu is large with lots of tasty sounding dishes, but I opted to go vegetarian because, despite being a dyed-in-thewool omnivore, I couldn’ t resist the crêpe au four. A baked crepe filled to the brim with spinach, mushrooms( both Portobello and chestnut), shallots, garlic, Emmental and a Mornay and cepe sauce, it came with either salad or‘ frites’ and I went for the chips.. another thing I can’ t resist. Full of flavour and different from what I’ d normally choose, I polished it off happily. My guest chose the much meatier Rouge burger – a six-ounce Black Angus beef burger in a toasted brioche bun – to which he added chargrilled bacon. It looked amazing, but I didn’ t get to try it; he enjoyed it far too much.
We had made it to dessert, and, because there is always room for dessert, we immediately said yes when asked if we wanted to look at the menu. I’ d already spotted what I was going to have – the raspberry parfait: smooth raspberry parfait with white chocolate sauce and salted caramel pistachios, and it didn’ t take long for my guest to choose his last course: tarte aux pommes – warm apple tart with tarte tatin ice cream. Both extremely satisfying to the last bite.
Café Rouge has a full and delicious menu of food choices, but it’ s more than the food that makes this place feel so comfortable; it’ s that certain je ne sais quois that really does it in the end.
Café Rouge Bluewater Shopping Centre Lower Thames Walk Greenhithe DA9 9SJ 01322 624427 www. caferouge. com
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